Science of Synthesis and Houben-Weyl are extremely important and useful review sources for synthetic chemists. Unlike most databases, they provide an overview of the synthetic literature and evaluate specific reactions and methods used for a variety of purposes. Any strong organic synthesis collection would be enhanced by this resource. By reading the review articles contained, researchers can save a great deal of time that would otherwise have been spent performing searches and wading through a vast quantity of articles to find the best synthetic method for a particular transformation. Although the quirks of the interface can be irritating at times, the functionality is generally good, and the quality of the information contained makes up for any difficulties in obtaining it. If funds can be spared in these times of troubled budgets, Science of Synthesis is an excellent investment.

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